George Kittle is a man who has no idea how to actually skate, bu he still admires the game of Hockey.
The San Francisco 49ers tight end basically has a bromance with Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg, who were introduced through their girlfriends.
“It’s been really fun to be friends with someone in another sport. I think hockey is the hardest sport because I can’t skate to save my life. I don’t understand how they can move like they do,” Kittle told The Athletic’s Adam Vingan. “I have an appreciation for it, and being able to be a friend with one of the best hockey players in the NHL has been pretty cool for me.”
Kittle was named an All-Pro after his second straight 1,000-yard season and helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl.
Despite his own athletic abilities and talent on the football field, Kittle remains blown away by what players like Forsberg are able to do while on ice.
“The fact that Fil is more comfortable on skates than he is on land or grass is just insane to me,” Kittle said. “I have the fake ice and a hockey goal and I get out and shoot sometimes, especially now when I’m stuck at home. I don’t know how they do that stuff while on skates. Everything that they do, they’re playing at high speed at all times. It’s physical. It’s a grind. It’s a ton of games. You’re traveling everywhere. I just respect the grind.
“I just respect the whole game of hockey. I think, honestly, it’s just a beautiful masterpiece when it’s played well.”
